97 SE "Project Wheat Thins"
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Smal update. Axles are dropped off at James shop. Rear chromos came in today. Finally finished cleaning up the spot on cage where fender bars used to go. Only had flat black so I gotta repaint it with satin but yea... Hopefully pull the fender armor off tomorrow to repaint and finally put front clip back on.. Havent had alot of time lately, Been preoccupied with work and some other things.


Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Finally some progress. Axles were done last tuesday night. Couldnt get out there til this tuesday to pick them up. So me and my friend Ethan went out to James shop and got them.
So lets start with the rear. I had 4.56 gears installed, u bolt eliminators, and a rear axle truss done. Once back at the house, I had a rear locker to install, ten factory chromoly shafts, outter axle seals, and a riddler diff cover to install.

Little did I know the 4.56 gear set the ring gear is ALOT thicker then 3.55s So the cross pin wouldnt slide into the carrier. So I had to grind a little off that

See how thick?

Chromos

Scottie (Doove) Came over to help

Locker installed

C clips suck with that gearing and everything, took me alot longer then my front always has. Truss looking good.
U-Bolt Eliminators

Cover on and all painted(Mostly)

Pulled the knuckles off the front, and cut off the steering stabilzer mount. Cant get ball joints out til its on the jeep unfortunately.

Oh and I bought a NEW NEW truck. Its a chevy I used to be a chevy guy long before jeeps. I LOVED my ram and still almost miss it. But I drove it way more then I imagined and miles were climbing. Chevy had a great clearence sale (Got 26.81% off on this truck) and I pulled the trigger.
So lets start with the rear. I had 4.56 gears installed, u bolt eliminators, and a rear axle truss done. Once back at the house, I had a rear locker to install, ten factory chromoly shafts, outter axle seals, and a riddler diff cover to install.

Little did I know the 4.56 gear set the ring gear is ALOT thicker then 3.55s So the cross pin wouldnt slide into the carrier. So I had to grind a little off that

See how thick?

Chromos

Scottie (Doove) Came over to help

Locker installed

C clips suck with that gearing and everything, took me alot longer then my front always has. Truss looking good.
U-Bolt Eliminators

Cover on and all painted(Mostly)

Pulled the knuckles off the front, and cut off the steering stabilzer mount. Cant get ball joints out til its on the jeep unfortunately.

Oh and I bought a NEW NEW truck. Its a chevy I used to be a chevy guy long before jeeps. I LOVED my ram and still almost miss it. But I drove it way more then I imagined and miles were climbing. Chevy had a great clearence sale (Got 26.81% off on this truck) and I pulled the trigger.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I was waiting for someone to say that. They were supposed to go. But we wanted to do fitment at his shop with the jeep there before putting higher mounts on. I can't decide if I'm going to do shocks through the floor to the cage, or just shorter relocated shocks. This way I'll be able to drive the jeep to his shop vs trailering it because I dont want to drive 50 miles without rear shocks
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I've thought of that but theres no point really. If I raise the shock mount to level with the axle, I could use stock shocks and have them high clearence with stock upper mounts. The roll cage comes right above leaf spring plates I could weld a mount on top of the plates and go straight through the floor to the cage and weld another mount on and have it ride better. Right now though this will atleast have shocks and drivability.







